According to Ayurveda, yoga's sister science which works with Nature to balance our bodily systems, lemon, honey, vinegar, and cayenne combine to create fat busting, digestion and metabolism boosting elixir.

Vinegar and lemon encourage bile from the liver and gall bladder into the gut. Bile helps the body to digest high-fat foods, which would otherwise linger in the digestive system making us feel akin to beached whales.

After spells of eating super rich and fatty foods (like the holidays, for example), it's great to give your belly a rest and break up any sludge in your digestive system. This combination of vinegar, lemon juice, honey, chili powder, doTERRA grapefruit oil, and water combines to help kick start your metabolism while cleansing your blood and lymphatic system.

Drink this special brew upon waking, a half an hour before meals, or sip slowly after meals. Enjoy it up to a few times a day between meals until you feel your pipes are sufficiently cleansed. Happy digesting!

Ingredients:

1/8 Teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Pinch cayenne pepper

Juice of half a lemon

1 drop doTERRA grapefruit essential oil

1 Cup purified water

Method:

Heat the water until hot but not boiling.

Put the remaining ingredients into a mug and mix them together.

Add the hot water and stir until well-combined. Sip and enjoy the new sense of freedom in your digestive system. :)

Benefits:

Chile: Ah, the beloved chile. A sacred plant where I come from (New Mexico), this pungent pepper has a myriad of health benefits. The phytonutrients found in chile can fight inflammation, clear congestion, boost your metabolism and immunity, while balancing your blood sugar. See here for more health benefits and nutritional information.

Grapefruit Essential Oil: This citrus oil boosts digestion and helps to clear the lymphatic system, while flushing the body of excess fluids. It is also beneficial for treating aging or loose skin. It is mood balancing and uplifting to the mind, and may help to relieve anxiety. See here to learn more about doTERRA essential oils.

Honey: Often called "Nature's sweetener," local, raw, honey is a great way to add sweetness to your life. Raw honey is packed with vitamins and minerals and offers anti-bacterial and and anti-viral properties. But according to the Ayurvedic tradition, don't cook honey. Adding significant heat to honey both strips it of its vitamins, minerals, and enzymes while creating cellular toxicity. So add it to your cool dishes, or to warmer dishes AFTER they have finished cooking. See here for more health benefits and nutritional info.

Lemon: Lemons are vitamin C powerhouses. Great for immunity, vitamin C can also be helpful for preventing the development and progression of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. See here for more health benefits and nutritional info.

*NOTE: Not all essential oils are created equal. I only use doTERRA because their oils are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade, which is suitable for internal, external, and aromatherapeutic consumption.

*NOTE: All doTERRA Essential Oils are extremely potent. I’d recommend 1 drop per batch. Otherwise, just know that you will have a VERY strong-tasting snack!